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Lessons My Father Taught Me

Every now and then it is good to take an inventory of your life and think about those who helped you along the way. There have been many who had a role in my growth and development but none as great as my father. Over the past few weeks I have thought about our relationship and would like to share some of the lessons he taught me. While many of these lessons came through actual teaching, others were by his example.

Respect your self. My father taught me to respect myself long before the Staple Singers sang about it. He told me if I did not respect myself no one else would. I wonder if the Staple Singers were listening to my father? "Respect Yourself." I guess not. Most likely, they had the same training. Not only did he say respect yourself he said that I must respect others, especially my elders. I learned early that those ?old people' (as we called them) were always right.

Time waits for no one. Believe you me, time did not wait and neither did my father. Some of my friends did not think it was important to be on time. They took the attitude, "I'll get there when I get there." I knew better. In our home you had better be ready at the appointed time or you were out of luck. To this day I dislike being late. Some people contribute my promptness to the military. I tell them "No way! Peter Louis West trained me long before I entered the military."

Get your education. That statement was drilled into my head. My parents knew that the way to success was to have the best possible education. Never stop learning. No one can take knowledge away from you. It is yours forever! All of the children in my family were given the opportunity to go to college. My oldest brother, James was the only one to finish as a young adult. The rest of us thought we knew a better way and ended up having to work and go to school as we paid our own way. My last degree was received at age 45.

Do your best. Whatever task you accept give it your best shot. One of my father's favorite saying was, "If you are cleaning the streets, be the best street cleaner you can be."

Prayer is important. Every Sunday morning before breakfast we gathered in the living room to read the Bible and pray. I did not appreciate it at the time and felt it a waste of time. Mom would cook breakfast before we had our prayers and we knew there were hot biscuit awaiting us. Daily prayers were said at mealtime and before going to bed. As I grew older and was confronted with the storms of life I understood the power of prayer and what it could do for my life and living. I learned how to pray by listening to my parents.

Share your resources. We did not have very much but what we had we shared. People ate at our table that I did not know nor do I remember - lots of people. My father gave away money and food like he owned a bank and a grocery store. Dad was rich in the spirit of giving. It was my father's way of giving back to the Creator for the blessings he had received. The principal of tithing was taught and practiced in our home. I must admit because of father's generosity I thought he was crazy. The older I become the more I find myself behaving like my father. So I guess I am crazy, too. However, I will continue to share my resources with those in need. During my father's short lifetime, I witnessed his love for all of God's people. In our home we entertained a rich mixture of people - rich, poor, young, old, black, white, brown, short, tall, skinny, fat, those who had found Christ and those still searching. All people are God's children and have a right to be loved and respected.

March 4, 2008, was the 40th anniversary of my father's death. I miss his physical presence in my life but his spirit is with me now and forever. Yes, my Dad taught me many lessons but most of all he introduced me to Jesus the Christ. Thank you Dad for the love, compassion and discipline you gave me. I am who I am because of the parents God blessed me with and the lessons they taught me. Peter Louis West is gone but certainly not forgotten.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 New Revised Standard Version

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FAITH WALK
by: Rev. A. Rebecca West

I greet you on this beautiful day, this day that the Lord has made. I invite you to join me in being glad and to rejoice that we are here.

I am looking forward to Advent, that time of year that directs our attention to the coming of the Christ child. There are so many reasons to give God praise and to glorify his name. As I wait, I not only think of Christ's birth but of his return. I also wait, anticipating God through Jesus Christ, restoring my body to a renewed and healthy state.

Last month I told you that life is a journey. As we travel there are lessons to learn. I am learning many lessons these days. The most important lesson I have learned this month is that of acceptance.

When I talk about acceptance I do not mean my breast cancer. I suspected the cancer to be there when I found the lump. That breast had always been suspect. When the answer came back that it was cancerous I accepted it readily. I wanted to do what needed to be done to get the cancer out of my body. I started preparing myself for all side effects I heard or read about and was ready to move on with my life. The thing I was not prepared for was all of the people who wanted to help me. People were calling to take me to the doctor; to be there for me during and after my surgery; offering to prepare meals; walk Blackie (my dog), and in general, just pamper me. Previous to this experience I have always been the giver. I did not want anyone fussing over me. I hope I was cordial. Intellectually, I understood. I accepted the offers but it was not easy. I woke up one morning with this thought running through my mind - this is not about me. This is about people who love me and want to travel this leg of my journey with me. I thank God for that insight. He showed me that I was not to interfere with the ministry of others. There is a time to minister and a time to be ministered to. I give thanks to all of the wonderful people God has placed in my life to help me on this leg on the journey. Providing service to others is a way to provide service to Christ.

Let this be your lesson. Allow others to bring joy to your heart. In doing so it brings joy to theirs.

The following is an update on my health-three weeks after the surgery.
The doctor removed the last set of stitches. When I left his office I flew to North Carolina for a Justice and Witness Board Meeting. On November 10, I had a port-a-cath put in to administer my chemo. That treatment should start November 30.
In the meantime I am enjoying every moment of my life. It is a gift from God and I appreciate it. I plan to use it wisely and to my fullest potential.

In closing I would like to leave you with this scripture from the Bible that was one of many written and given to me by a member and friend. She called them precious words for healing.

"I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord." Psalm 118:17

It is my prayer that you and yours will have a blessed day and a blessed holiday.

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Faith Journey
Part 2
Blessings

Each morning when I wakeup I thank the Lord for a new day. I thank him for another day that He has made. It does not matter how I feel, I just do my best to rejoice and to be glad in it. I thank God that I am alive and can do simple, little things for myself. If the task is too big I know there are those waiting to help. So I thank him for them. It is amazing how blessings come when one is open to receiving them.
      As I began the New Year, I found myself reflecting on how far God has brought me. I stopped to think of all the things I was blessed to do in 2005. I was given the opportunity to go on sabbatical for three months. Those months were precious. I was able to travel, do a bit of intense study and to engage in much needed relaxation. I spent uninterrupted time with my family and friends. I renewed old friendships and made new ones. It was a time to rest, reflect, rejoice, and renew my spiritual life. Thinking back, I learned how to enjoy life to its fullest. This sabbatical leave prepared me for what was ahead.
      My bout with cancer has allowed me to be blessed in other ways. I discovered many people have gone through or are going through my experiences. They were willing, sometimes eager, to share their stories with me. They offered words of encouragement by letting me know that there is life after cancer. I am reminded daily that I do not have to walk this journey alone. The journey of life is open to all for new possibilities.
      God continues to bless me with the strength I need to do the work I am called to do. I am grateful for a loving congregation that allows me to continue my ministry, as I am able. I am blessed to share my ministry with a senior pastor, who is compassionate, understanding and caring. I am blessed to have a congregation that, once I got out of the way, ministered to me.
      I continue to draw strength from my family. My mother and father taught us how to pray, how to worship and love God and humankind. It is a blessing to be reared in a family knowing that Christ is central in your home. I count my family as the first and lasting blessing that God has bestowed upon me.
      These past months have been difficult at times. In addition to the love and strength received from my family and the congregation I have heard from high school and college classmates. Co-workers from years ago have surfaced. We have reconnected.   The flowers, cards, notes, phone calls, e-mails, and prayers arrived when I needed them. Blessings come in all sizes, shapes and colors. I am grateful for them however they arrive.
      As we continue through 2006 let us be steadfast in our love for God and each other. I leave you with the words I left those who worshipped with us at our Watch Night Service on December 31, 2005.
      "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; Let the humble be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." Psalm 34:1-3
      Be blessed this day and all the days to come.

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Faith Walk
Part 3

As we travel life's journey it is important that you remember home. From time to time it is important to return home. Returning home gives one the opportunity to reflect upon your roots, to reflect upon where you have come from and to reconnect with the past.

On Mother's Day weekend I had the occasion to visit with my family in South Carolina. I found it to be a blessed and enriching experience. I was able to reflect on the fact that God has allowed our mother to remain in the same house for over sixty-five years. He allowed her to build a home for us. As I sat at the dining room table I recalled the many meals she prepared for us I also remembered the many prayers and the conversations that were held around that table. When I was younger those acts of kindness and concern were taken for granted. As I have grown older, I thank God and my mother for of the love and care I received.

Home is important. I will never forget those in the community who had a hand in molding me and shaping my live. I experienced the African Proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child" long before I knew it existed. Growing up in my community meant you had as many parents as there were adults in your neighborhood. Every one had the authority and responsibility to correct you. Being home gave me the opportunity to reflect, to give thanks and to remember those who helped me to become the woman I am today.

While home and community are important, the most important institution in my life is the church. I must admit that as a youngster I went to church because it was required. Later, during my undergraduate years, I began to understand the importance of my church and community in my life. Now that I am a pastor I know the roots that took hold as a child continue to keep my grounded.

As I sat in the pew of my home church on Mother's Day I remembered that this is the church of my great-grandparents, my grandparents and my parents. I continue to feel the love and comfort of home, of the community and the neighborhood. This is the old country church where I was introduced to Jesus the Christ. This is the old country church where my spiritual foundation was molded and shaped. This is the old country church where I was given the opportunity to participate in the worship life of the church. It was here that I learned the sixty-six books of the bible, how to read scriptures and pray. It was here we met to worship, study and fellowship. It was here we learned about the political process and how to be a participant. We gathered in the old country church to bring God's realm to earth.

Yes, retuning home is important. It is a time to reflect and to give thanks. I thank God for the longevity of our mother, for the wisdom she continues to impart to us, and for the daily prayers she offers for us. I thank God for the people of my church and community, for their wisdom, caring and love. I thank God for my little country church for it still takes a village to raise a child.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

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Faith Walk

I will not die; instead I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done. Psalm 118:17
Good News Bible- Today's English Version

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since I my mastectomy. Yes, on October 4, 2006 I celebrated my first anniversary. On that day I reflected on all the people who were there for me. I thanked God for all of them and for those, in their absence, offered prayers from a distance.   It is a blessing to be loved and care for.

This past year was a blessed and challenging one.   It was a blessed one because I was able to do most of the things I needed and wanted to do. One of my greatest blessings was to have the strength to attend worship service every Sunday, but two. The first Sunday in December I woke up with a lot of energy. However, within an hour my head and stomach were in such turmoil that I could not stand up. This was the fourth day after my first chemotherapy treatment. The next time was Sunday, July 30th.   While at a retreat I came down with a fever and had to be admitted to the hospital. That illness occurred about ten days following my last chemotherapy treatment.

I wonder about the long period of time between the first and last treatment. Things happened. Things changed. My body changed. It was eight long months and many sessions with technicians and doctors. During that time, in addition to the chemo, I concentrated on complementary treatments. They were most helpful. I am grateful to live in an area where complementary/alternative medicines are available. I found great comfort in massage therapy, acupuncture, herbal drinks, quite music, and meditation. I found that laughter along with prayer was a strong medicine. I believe my faith kept me going.

The challenge this past year has been to balance work and rest. By nature, I like to keep busy. If there is something to be done I want to get it out of the way. It was necessary for me to learn to slow down, to pace myself. Frequently, friends and family reminded me to rest. I tried to slow down a bit but found it very hard. My mind and body seemed to have been saying, "everything's o.k." The only time I was aware of my condition was following chemotherapy. Chemo made me tired and it was hard at times to keep going. Yet, when I worked a full day without resting between tasks, generally I had difficulty functioning the next day. So, I learned to pace myself and tried not to work to weariness.

Yes, I lost a breast and I lost my hair but neither have had any impact on my ability to work. I always knew a woman was more than hair or breast and having been without both I know it is okay. I learned that there is always tomorrow. I learned to ask for help. I learned to except help graciously.   I am made in God's image and will always be a beautiful child in his site and that is all that matters. I have been called to carry out God's mission and ministry.

This past year I have grown deeper in my relationship with the Lord. I am able to help people in a way that I had not done before. Many blessings came out of my journey with cancer. I feel that I am a stronger preacher and better counselor. I am in a better position to understand what our parishioners are going through when they are confronted with a difficult medical situation. This journey is a blessing for me and others. One thing, I know for sure is God is always with us no matter what is happening in our lives.

Be blessed and give God the praise and glory for your life and living.

I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:ll Good News Bible- Today's English Version.